CAP Hepatitis C Program

Weekly Hepatitis C News Update

Cortland sees spike in Hepatitis C in drug users
Cortland, N.Y. – “Public health officials are investigating a surge of Hepatitis C cases in Cortland County showing up mostly among people under 35 who shoot drugs.”

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/cortland_sees_spike_in_hepatit.html

Hepatitis C warning for HIV-positive men
A new report is calling for raised awareness of the risks posed by hepatitis C to gay men living with HIV.
“The National AIDS Trust said the implications of hepatitis C and HIV co-infection on health can be severe, with liver disease one of the major causes of serious illness and fatality in HIV-positive people.”

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/01/27/hepatitis-c-warning-for-hiv-positive-men/

VIHA moves cautiously to step up efforts for harm reduction
“South Nanaimo residents reacted angrily in 2007, when public health nurses in vans started showing up in alleys, handing out crack-pipe mouthpieces and other supplies to addicts.”

http://www.canada.com/VIHA+moves+cautiously+step+efforts+harm+reduction/6060802/story.html

The sharp side: B.C. hospitals aim to safeguard health professionals from sharp instruments
“Five thousand health professionals, including hundreds of nurses and doctors in operating rooms, are stabbed by sharp medical instruments each year in B.C.”

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/sharp+side+hospitals+safeguard+health+professionals+from+sharp+instruments/6052265/story.html#ixzz1kxo2mUbP

No vaccine for Hep C
“In Tuesday’s front-page coverage about travel vaccinations there is one serious error that needs correction. The picture accompanying the article shows a nurse holding two vials filled with vaccines. The caption lists one of those vaccines as being for Hep C.”

http://www.chroniclejournal.com/editorial/letters/2012-01-25/no-vaccine-hep-c

Lorren Sandt
Executive Director
Caring Ambassadors Program
P.O. Box 1748
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-632-9032
503-632-9038 – FAX

Choice, health, and wellness for people with long-term disease.

Hepatitis Health Action

The Hepatitis Community Responds to Health Care Reform

Action Alert!

Tell Congress Not To Cut The Prevention and Public Health Fund

January 19, 2012

The Prevention and Public Health Fund is under attack in Congress once again. Some leaders in the House of Representatives would like to make drastic cuts to the Fund as part of negotiations on a long-term deal on the payroll tax cut and Medicare payments rates to medical providers.

The Prevention and Public Health Fund, part of the Affordable Care Act, provides money each year for vital prevention and public health services. The fund will grow each year until it eventually provides $2 billion/year.

This fund is extremely important to the nation’s fight against the viral hepatitis epidemic. Later this year, the Department of Health and Human Services is expected to allocate $10 million from the Fund for viral hepatitis screening, testing, and education programs. This initiative will greatly help efforts to identify the millions of Americans who have chronic hepatitis B or C and link them to care and treatment.

Please take a few minutes to call Congress in support of this lifesaving program!

What YOU can DO:

Please call your U.S. House Representative and two U.S. Senators immediately. We are hearing directly from Congressional staff that phone calls are the most effective form of communication.

Call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 1-888-876-6242 and ask to be connected to your United States Representative. When you reach your Representative’s office, tell whoever answers the phone that you are a constituent and that you would like to speak to the staff person who handles health care issues. Whether you speak to the staff person live or leave a voicemail, tell him/her:

“My name is _______________ and I live in (city/state). I am calling in strong support of the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which is an important part of the Affordable Care Act. This Fund is a great opportunity to provide badly needed funding for viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and screening programs and must be preserved. I urge Representative_____________ to oppose any efforts to cut the Fund as part of the payroll tax/Medicare physician reimbursement negotiations.”

After you speak to your Representative’s office, call the Capitol Switchboard again and deliver the same message to the health care staff person in your two U.S. Senators’ office.

Thank you for taking the time to make a difference! Please spread the word.

Get involved with Hepatitis Health Action!

· Sign up for the Hepatitis Health Action email list by visiting http://groups.google.com/group/HepHealth or, email rclary@projectinform.org and we will make sure you are added.

· Join Hepatitis Health Action’s Facebook group: http://tinyurl.com/hephealthfacebook where you can participate in discussions with other advocates and share your ideas and strategies.

Hepatitis Health Action is a campaign led by viral hepatitis advocates working to make sure that health care reform addresses hepatitis B and C.